First day at work: how to behave? Psychologist's advice

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

A long search for a suitable job and an interview is finally over. It would seem that having acquired the coveted position, you can forget about the experiences. However, you constantly worry about how your first day at work will go. This excitement is understandable, but do not be too afraid. Careful preparation, self-control and advice from psychologists will help you make a good impression on new colleagues.

Start preparing early

If you were hired as a result of the interview, you should not immediately run away, scattering in gratitude, and rush to celebrate your victory with friends and family. Take a deep breath, pull yourself together and ask some important questions to the leader. To make your first day at work as easy as possible, please provide the following information:

• who you will meet, who will oversee your work and who you can turn to for help and advice;
• check your work schedule;
• be sure to ask if the organization has a dress code;
• make a list of documents that you need to have with you for registration;
• find out what software products you will have to work with in order to study them properly at home;
• be sure to write down all the information in a notebook so you don't forget anything.

It never hurts to additionally go through the official website of the organization in which you are going to work. There you can find additional information, as well as fix the information already received in memory.

What to do the day before

The first day at a new job is definitely stressful. To minimize the experience, you should carefully prepare the day before. It is best to spend this day at your leisure - go to the cinema with friends or go to nature with your family. You should get the maximum of positive emotions, so as not to leave room for excitement. Be sure to go to bed early. In order not to forget anything in a hurry, you need to do the following in the evening:

• decide on your work wardrobe and prepare everything so that in the morning you only have to get dressed;
• make a list of necessary documents and immediately put them in a bag;
• make a script of actions for the morning so as not to get confused;
• plan how you will get to work, taking into account all unforeseen circumstances to avoid being late.

Never put off getting ready for the morning. Believe me, you will not be up to it. It is better to sleep an extra half an hour, cook a delicious breakfast and take the time to do your hair or make-up.

First day at work - advice from a psychologist

Everything new is stressful, and even more so when it comes to work. You will need to get used tounfamiliar team and quickly deal with their duties. Naturally, an unprepared person can become confused or even lose his temper. That is why it is worth taking an extremely responsible approach to such an event as the first day at work. Psychologists will tell you how to behave:

• Put aside unnecessary worries. Everyone goes through a complex process of staff adaptation. Tune in to the fact that every day it will be easier for you.
• Treat colleagues with the utmost courtesy. At the same time, your face should radiate friendliness. This way you can quickly connect with employees and make friends.
• Get involved. Empathy for failures and joy for the successes of colleagues is an important point in networking. Nevertheless, you should not show obsession.
• Your problems and troubles should not be made public. Also, never show any personal animosity towards your co-workers.
• In no case do not host someone else's workplace. Even if it is in the order of things for a company to use someone's phone, stapler or printer, you should not do this on the first working day.
• Don't talk too much about yourself, don't brag about your skills and talents. First of all, you should show interest in the work.
• Spend your first day at work observing. This applies not only to the work process, but also to the behavior of colleagues. Knowing their character traits, it will be easier for you to adapt in the team.
• Don't wait for your superiors to call you to make a remark. First time is betterindependently report to management in order to control the correct execution of work.
• Drive away negativity and discouragement. Imagine what success you can achieve today, in a week, in a month, in a year. Thoughts are material, and therefore they must be positive and bright.
• Use your newbie status and don't try to show brilliant results right away. To get started, try to delve deeper into the details of the work.

The main rule to follow when starting a new business is a positive mood. Enter the office with smiles and wishes for a successful working day. It is very important to do this sincerely. If you are not in the mood, then there is no need for forced grimaces. Just a polite greeting is enough.

What not to do

On the first day at work, many make mistakes that can prevent further adaptation in the team. To get to know colleagues smoothly, in no case should you do the following:

• be late (even if it happened through no fault of yours, in the eyes of colleagues and superiors you will be a non-punctual person);
• forgetting names (it would seem a trifle, but it can offend, so write it down if you are not sure about your memory);
• flatter both bosses and employees;
• boast (it's better to prove your superiority with a great job);
• talk about your previous job (colleagues may listen with interest, but bosses may not like it);
• set their order in the office; taketaking on too many obligations both in terms of work and in terms of personal relationships with colleagues;
• insist on something if you don't understand the issue;
• promote friendship or kinship with superiors or dignitaries (especially if you got a job under their patronage);
• immediately impose your friendship or closer relationship.

Of course, no one is immune from mistakes, but at first it is better to keep yourself under control. If you manage to establish yourself well and become a valuable employee, then in time you will be forgiven for some mistakes.

What to do on the first day

The first day at a new job is a big test. Nevertheless, you need to drop the panic and turn on rational thinking. To make your work easier in the future, on the first day you need to complete the following minimum program:

• Be proactive in getting to know your colleagues. Remember that you are in an already established team, and in order to occupy a certain niche in it, you need to make an effort.
• Get your workspace organized right away. In the future, you may simply not have time for this. In addition, this way you can create the impression of an active and hardworking person.
• Try to delve as deeply as possible into all the features of working in this team and understand its atmosphere. Be observant.
• Understand the specifics of your work, as well as the features of the mode. Gather and study all documentation that contains information about your rights, obligations and otheressential conditions.

If you are a department head

Sometimes it is much more difficult for a boss to adapt to a new workplace than for an ordinary employee. If you are the head of a department, then on the first day and in your future work, you should be guided by the following rules:

• never criticize a subordinate in the presence of his colleagues;
• keep your personal impression of a person to yourself - you have the right to speak only about his professional qualities;
• express your thoughts clearly and specifically when giving instructions or making comments;
• criticism should help improve performance, not be a means of self-expression;
• in informal communication with subordinates, be polite and friendly;
• be attentive to your employees - always ask about their well-being, and also congratulate them on holidays.

Work after holidays

First day at work after vacation can be a real torture. Even inveterate workaholics at the end of a well-deserved rest can become depressed from the need to start their routine duties again. As psychologists assure, this condition is quite normal and passes with time. Nevertheless, it is better to prepare for the end of the vacation in advance.

Plan your vacation in such a way that the rest ends 2-3 days before going to work. At this time, it is worth adjusting the sleep pattern - getting used to going to bed early and waking up early again. But you should not plunge headlong into everyday affairs, because you are still legalvacation. It is worth noting that it is quite difficult to sustain a full-fledged working week after a holiday. That is why try to plan your vacation so that you can start your duties, for example, on Wednesday or Thursday. So, you will have time to join the working rhythm before the weekend and not have time to get too tired.

To make the first day at work after vacation easy and calm, follow these recommendations:

• reward yourself for a job well done (like a delicious dinner or going to the movies);
• to make the return to the previous rhythm painless, start with the most interesting things, and leave the routine for later;
• take small breaks every 30-40 minutes to avoid overexertion (at this time you can review vacation photos or share impressions with colleagues);
• immediately start keeping a diary, which will set deadlines for the most important things;
• be sure to snack throughout the day (bananas and dark chocolate can stimulate brain function and provide a good mood).

Signs and superstitions

For many people, both desirable and frightening is the phrase "Going out for the first day at a new job!" Signs and superstitions are widespread not only in everyday life, but also in offices. Sometimes, wanting to win the favor of the authorities or raise salaries, employees of reputable companies can resort to the help of psychics, fortune-tellers, and even perform magical rites.

Sure, brew miraculous potions or make or make a director's voodoo dollnot worth it. So that the first day at a new job brings you good luck, remember some office signs:

• spread coins in the corners of your office to attract a pay rise or bonus;
• so that computers do not freeze, and the printer does not chew paper, communicate with technology politely and kindly, thank you for your work (if you are shy in front of colleagues, then do it mentally);
• try not to start work on the 13th;
• on the first day, you should not leave the office until the end of the working day, either on personal or official business (this is for dismissal);
• don't keep your office door open or you'll get a lot of errands;
• on the first day, do not order business cards, a badge or signs on the door, otherwise there is a risk that you will not last long in this job.

Features of the adaptation process

Work in a new team certainly begins with the process of adaptation. And it is important to understand that this applies not only to a beginner. The team must also get used to the emergence of a new link and help it in every possible way to integrate into the workflow. There are four successive stages that make up adaptation:

• To begin with, a new employee is assessed in terms of professional and social skills. Based on the data obtained, an adaptation program can be drawn up. It should be noted that the easiest way to join a new team is for those employees who have experience in a similar position. Nevertheless, even such a person does not immediately get used to the new conditions and daily routine.
• Orientationimplies familiarizing the newcomer with his job responsibilities, as well as a list of requirements that are put forward both for his professional and personal qualities. For this purpose, talks, special lectures or preparatory courses may be held.
• Effective adaptation occurs at the moment when the employee begins to join the team. He can prove himself both in work and in communication. We can say that during this period the employee puts into practice the acquired knowledge.
• The stage of operation implies the transition to stable performance of official duties, in accordance with the established schedule. Depending on how the work is organized at the enterprise, this stage can last from several months to one and a half years.

Conclusions

The first day at work brings a lot of experiences and new experiences. In a short time, you need to have time not only to understand the work, but also to get to know the employees and win their sympathy. The main thing is not to panic in case of difficulties and to perceive criticism objectively. It is worth noting that the first day of work of a new employee is a turning point, but far from a decisive one. Even if everything went smoothly, you still have a long adjustment period.

It is worth noting that in Western practice, the trial period lasts about six months. During this time, you need not only to show your knowledge and skills, but also to adapt to the new team. At domestic enterprises, a newcomer is given no more than two weeks for this (in rare cases, a month), and thereforeyou need to prepare for the first working day in advance. Try to learn as much as you can about the organization, as well as read the recommendations of leading psychologists. To give yourself extra confidence, follow folk signs.